Seeking to improve understanding, communication, and cooperation between Mexico and the United States by promoting original research, encouraging public discussion, and proposing policy options for enhancing the bilateral relationship.

Flake: Building ‘fortress America’ won’t help economic growth

WASHINGTON – America cannot grow economically if it closes the borders to commerce and builds “fortress America,” Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Arizona, said Wednesday at a conference on U.S.-Mexico trade.

Flake, the keynote speaker at the Woodrow Wilson Center Mexico Institute’s “Building a Competitive U.S.-Mexico Border” conference, said the strong trade partnership between the U.S. and its southern neighbor is key for economic growth – something he said the likely presidential nominees do not appear to understand.

“The top candidates, the top two on each side, have made statements that are hardly free-trade friendly,” Flake said, without naming either Democrat Hillary Clinton or Republican Donald Trump.